‘Mafia state’: Police form investigative team for corruption probe naming Anastasiades

Local Independent Authority against CorruptionNicos AnastasiadespoliceTop News ‘Mafia state’: Police form investigative team for corruption probe naming Anastasiades Anastasiadis Droysiotis Kratos Mafia Sykofantis 1536x1051 Relevant News ‘Mafia state’: Police form investigative team for corruption probe naming Anastasiades 15 September 2026 The housing problem and the solutions on offer 15 September 2026 Cyprus hourly-paid state workers announce new strike, threaten 48-hour walkout 15 September 2026 newsroom 15 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus Police have formed an investigative team to work alongside the independent criminal investigators probing the “mafia state” case. At least seven police officers have been told they will join the investigative team at Police Headquarters’ Crime Combating Department from today, to investigate the “mafia state” case. The team comprises four sergeants, two police constables and one special constable. The five independent criminal investigators already appointed to the case are Greek nationals Vasileios Skouris (head of the team) and Ilias Anagnostopoulos, along with three Greek Cypriot lawyers, Sotiris Liasidis, Nikolas Koursaris and Dimitris Tsolakidis. The five held their first meeting on 13 July. The Independent Authority Against Corruption’s investigation, which ran for more than two years into allegations recorded in the book, has concluded. Its findings point to possible criminal liability for 15 people, former officials and private individuals, including former President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiades. Anastasiades is being examined over three counts of trading in influence, one count of the felony of abuse of power, and three counts of abuse of power at the misdemeanour level or attempted commission of a criminal offence. Two other individuals facing possible criminal liability are Anastasiades’s former partners at the law firm he founded, Stathis Lemis and Fanos Filippou. Both are being examined over two counts each of trading in influence (carrying up to seven years in prison) and money laundering (carrying up to 14 years in prison). The remaining 12 individuals and legal entities the Authority has recommended be examined for offences are: The law firm Nikos Chr. Anastasiades & Partners (trading in influence and money laundering) Rikkos Erotokritou, former Deputy Attorney General (abuse of power at the misdemeanour level, two counts) Charis Solomonides, former President of a District Court (bribery of a public official, transactions with agents suggestive of corruption, and unlawful acquisition of financial benefit, three counts in total) A. Neocleous & Co LLC (bribery of a public official, transactions with agents suggestive of corruption, active bribery of relevant public officials, and corporate liability of a legal entity) Panayiotis Neocleous (conspiracy to pervert the course of justice) Dmitry Rybolovlev (trading in influence) Andreas Hadjikyriacos (trading in influence) Efthymios Bouloutas (trading in influence and money laundering, two counts) Nikos Kouyialis, former Minister of Agriculture (abuse of power, misdemeanour) Giorgos Varnava, former MP (abuse of power at the misdemeanour level, or attempted commission of a criminal offence) Eva Rossidou Papakyriacou, former head of MOKAS (abuse of power at the misdemeanour level or attempted commission of a criminal offence, and neglect of official duty, two counts) Ioannis Sotiriadis, former senior police officer (abuse of power, misdemeanour) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News The housing problem and the solutions on offer Cyprus hourly-paid state workers announce new strike, threaten 48-hour walkout Things to do on Tuesday, September 15 On this day: Johnny Ramone, lead guitarist of the Ramones, died in 2004 Bird conservation group urges MPs to reject ELAM bid to curb anti-poaching cooperation Cyprus pushes for separate Guterres and Holguín meetings as Turkey shows little interest Cyprus’s 2027 budget forecasts surplus despite Ukraine and Middle East wars Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.